Mahfud MD Reminds No More Judges To Judge Cases Concerning His Family

Ganjar Pranowo with Mahfud MD/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Candidate for vice president (cawapres) Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud MD, reminded that no more judges should try cases related to their families.

This was conveyed by Mahfud in response to the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be 40 years old or have been elected by the people through elections. It is known that Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman, who is the uncle of the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, participated in the trial of the lawsuit.

"Because in the court there are actually principles, for example, if one case is related to one's own interests, the family has family ties or political interests, the judge should not judge," said Mahfud while attending the Meet and Greet event with Ganjar Pranowo in the Blok M area, Jakarta, Monday, October 23.

Not only that, Mahfud also assessed that the Constitutional Court had no right to cancel or add a clause in an legislation. "In the future, it should not happen," he said.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court then appreciated the establishment of the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) to investigate alleged violations when the decision on the terms of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates was taken. However, he said the public should not be too optimistic.

"Because sometimes who will be the assembly can sometimes be bought too. It can be engineered too," said Mahfud.

"So this decision could happen if the situation of development and legal fulfillment is still like now, but this is a lesson for all of us so that in the future it should not happen again," continued the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam).

Previously, the Constitutional Court granted part of the request for Case Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 submitted by an Indonesian citizen named Almas Tsaqibbirru Re A from Surakarta, Central Java.

With this decision, Article 169 letter (q) of the Election Law fully reads "The lowest age is 40 (fourty) years or has been / is currently in the position chosen through general elections including regional head elections".

Based on Case Decision Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023, there are different reasons (concurring opinions) from two constitutional judges, namely Enny Nurbaningsih and Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh, as well as dissenting opinions from four constitutional judges, namely Wahiduddin Adams, Saldi Isra, Arief Hidayat, and Suhartoyo.

After this decision was concluded, the Mayor of Gibran Rakabuming Raka was finally decided to accompany the presidential candidate from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto. They will register with the General Election Commission (KPU) on Wednesday, October 25.